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Jack in the Box Removes Toys From Kids' Meals

McDonald's Smott argued that the Golden Arches' "Happy Meals make it easier for families to choose the right foods in portions just for kids," adding that "we provide options for our customers and trust them to make the decisions that are right for their families. Politicians should, too."

Jack in the Box spokesman Brian Luscomb said that "while we've been aware of efforts to ban the inclusion of toys in kids' meals, that did not drive our decision."

"Our advertising and promotions have focused exclusively on the frequent fast-food customer, not children," added Randy Carmical, also a Jack in the Box spokesman.

Luscomb conceded that a small percentage of Jack in the Box's $2.9 billion in annual revenue came from the sale of kids' meals, a menu item the chain has offered for decades.

Carmical added that Jack in the Box chose to focus more on the food its children's meals, rather than the toys; it recently began offering customers the option to substitute a portion of sliced apples with a caramel dipping sauce instead of French fries.

"We believe that providing these kinds of options is more appealing to a parent than packaging a toy with lower-quality fare," Carmical said.